State Sen. Ed Hernandez and Rep. Judy Chu, listen to Rep. Grace Napolitano speak to supporters during a San Gabriel Valley Election Night Celebration Party hosted by Chu on Tuesday night, November 4, 2014 at Ignacio’s Sports Bar & Grill in El Monte. All three democrats were re-elected. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz/Pasadena Star-News)

In 2009, Chu, a career politician for the past 32 years, became the first Chinese-American woman elected to Congress. A Democrat, her popularity and work in the San Gabriel Valley has enabled her to keep her seat.

“I’m so glad,” said Chu, 61. “It’s wonderful to have the confidence of the voters in this district, and I’m so pleased they’re returning me back so I can work on the San Gabriel Mountains, the Veterans health clinic, the Small Business Development Centers.”

Some 61 percent of voters chose Chu, while 39 percent of them picked her opponent, Jack Orswell, a small-business owner and former FBI agent. Voter turnout was 27 percent, according to semi-final official results from the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk.

Some outstanding ballots need to be tallied; the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors plan to declare the official election results on Dec. 2.

The 27th Congressional District comprises the Foothills and most of the West San Gabriel Valley, including all or parts of Monterey Park, Alhambra, San Gabriel, San Marino, Pasadena, Bradbury, Glendora and Claremont. The area is about 42 percent Democratic, 27 percent Republican and 2 percent American Independent, according to the California Secretary of State’s Office.

Challenger Orswell, a Republican who also lost to Chu in 2012, said he plans to stay active in the local community. He serves on the Board of Directors for the San Gabriel Valley Council’s Boy Scouts of America and is the chair of the Arcadia Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Committee.

If the election numbers hold, Orswell would have lost by a larger margin than he did in 2012. Even though he did not win, Orswell did welcome some happy news Tuesday night.

“The announcement that the Republicans have taken control of the (Senate) — I think a lot more will be done in Congress. Bills are going to be passed and placed on Obama’s desk. We may see some progress in Congress and in Washington.”

Orswell spent election night at Matt Denny’s Ale House Restaurant in Arcadia. About 75 people were in attendance, he said, including his wife Janet, sons Jeff and James, daughter Julie Hemphill and grandchildren.

Orswell ran on the slogan, “leadership, not politics.” He said he had original ideas about what could be done about the long-contested SR-710 Freeway.

While Chu said she would like to read a much-delayed environmental report on the five options to fill the freeway gap — no build, traffic management solutions, light rail, bus rapid transit or a freeway tunnel — Orswell presented a solution to the problem.

“I favor an improved traffic management system, the widening of the streets, and the completion of the Alameda Corridor East, which will remove the delays on major roads caused by railroad trains,” Orswell, 65, wrote on his campaign website. “These street and transit improvements can take place in the next few years, unlike the tunnel which is estimated to take at least 10-12 years to complete.”

Chu began the wait for election results at Ignacio’s Sports Bar & Grill in El Monte. She was in the company of Rep. Grace Napolitano, D-El Monte; state Sen. Ed Hernandez; state Assemblyman Ed Chau; and Bryan Urias, a member of the Uppers San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District.

“It was really wonderful to have the support of people on election night,” Chu said. “The enthusiasm was tremendous. Also what was great is that we have a great coalition of elected officials in the San Gabriel Valley.”

Chu serves on the House Judiciary Committee and House Small Business Committee. She is chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, which advocates for Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders across the nation.

Chu received about $1 million in campaign contributions, and about 34 percent of that came from political action committees, according to the Federal Election Commission. Big contributors include ADC Holdings LLC, American Crystal Sugar PAC, Carpenters Legislative Improvement Committee, International Union of Operating Engineers Local 12 and SEIU C.O.P.E.

Orswell’s campaign had a working budget of about $156,000 — about 3 percent of that came from PACs, according to the Federal Election Commission. In 2012 he had about $204,000 in funds.

Chu is endorsed by many organizations including Equality California, the Asian American Action Fund, Planned Parenthood, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, and the California Labor Federation.

Orswell has never held an elected position. He said he ran because he’s not happy with what’s going on in Congress.

“Congress could do a better job of looking out for the people of America,” he said in an earlier interview.